I
adj. , adv. ~ of
II
n.
1) in, to the ~
2) ( AE ) back ~ ('in the ~ern part of the US ')
3) ( BE ) out ~ ('in, to Asia')
4) the Far; Middle; Near ~
USAGE NOTE: The Far East refers to the countries of ~ern Asia. The Middle East refers to the countries of the ~ern Mediterranean. The Near East is now generally a synonym of the preceding term; formerly it referred to the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire.